Mechanical Wrecker's

I was looking at a new tow truck the other day and I started thinking of the truck I used to operate when I first started. It was a holmes 480 with a electric over hydraulic wheel lift on a 1977 chevy c-30 chassis. it wasn't pretty but she could pull anything you hooked up to it. Now very few mechanical wreckers are out on the road.
 What set these old wreckers apart from the hydraulic wreckers of today?? It was their ability to keep working way past the overload limit, the would literally work until something broke. And what would break wasn't always what you were uprighting.

stick boom & holmes 750
operator Pablo Contreras(double M towing)

 Two examples come to mind when I think of old mechanical wreckers one is the Holmes 750 and the other is Don Heins stick boom. The holmes 750 was rated at 25 tons but was a very versatile wrecker with the ability to do side pulls off the mast and having booms that swung open. The Don Heins stick boom was rated at 35 tons and had the capability of bringing the boom out, and was very user friendly.
 Both Holmes and Don Heins wrecker's were common sight on the Southern California freeway's in the 60's 70's and even in the 80's picking up everything from wreck's to disabled trucks.

 25 and 35 tons seem's like a low rating compared to the 50 ton rating of most hydraulic wreckers on the road today, but with the right operator and proper rigging these old wreckers can out work a hydraulic wrecker. It wasn't uncommon for only one truck to work a wreck you had to work with what you had, now the same wreck would require 2 or 3 trucks. A few companies out in the southern california area still run these old wreckers on newer chassis adding a underlift for everyday towing. Some have even converted them to hydraulic boom's giving them more versatility. I've had the privilege of working side by side with some of these giants of the past and have seen them do things that seemed impossible.
 Towing and Recovery has come a long way in the past years. We the newer generation in the industry really have it easy with all the new equipment. Not only is the equipment easier to operate but our trucks have all the comforts a passenger car. When you see one of these truck's on the road not only are you driving next to a piece of towing history but also a real tow truck operator who has more stories than he can tell you in a day about their equipment and experience.
  Here's a few picture's of wreckers still in service still going strong today after many years of service.

Pico pete around 1977 sitting in front of Engs motor truck co. in pico rivera ca

Pico pete 2012 still working presently owned by J&M towing Brawley Ca.

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"Blackie" owned by Riverside Towing 

hydraulic stick boom lifting 44k lbs.

Holmes on a military truck owned by Statewide Towing




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Is your car ready for the summer

With summer moving in on us is your car ready?? These past few days I've seen numerous cars with problem's on the side of the road. Im going to give you a few tips's on how to prevent costly repairs or a breakdown in this summer heat.
     The # 1 cause for a breakdown in the summer is your tires. The Rubber mfg. Association did a survey and surprisingly only 1 in 10 american drivers check their tires. Proper tire pressure is important especially in the summer, a under inflated tire will affect your gas milage and is also at risk for a blowout. A over inflated tire will wear prematurely and have to be replaced sooner costing you money. Most tires need 35-45 psi. of air but check the manufacturers tag on the sidewall for proper specification's.

Worn tires are a safety hazard not only to you but to all other motorist on the road. A simple test you can do to see if your tires need replacing is known as "the penny test". What you do is hold a penny upside down in the tread of your tires if you can see the top of Lincoln's it's time to replace it.

   Oil changes are more important than you think, why you ask the oil is the life blood of your vehicles engine. Changing your oil regularly will extend the life of your engine and maximize its efficiency. A oil change will normally cost you under $50 which is a small price to pay VS the thousands it will cost you if your engine suffers catastrophic failure due to poor lubrication from oil that's lost it's viscosity.
      Check your hoses and belts as those are important in the cooling of your engine. Look for crack's on your belt's, cracks are a sign of wear and should be replaced immediately.  Your hoses should be firm be firm never soft to the touch. Make sure your engine is cool as it normally operates at 200°+. Worn belts and hoses are a ticking time bomb that can cause you problems when you least expect it.
    Your air filter is important in keeping impurities from entering your engine. S dirty air filter can be compared to you running a marathon without breathing. The average air filter should be replaced every 12k miles or as per your vehicles manufacturer and can be replaced with simple hand tools or no tool's at all depending on your vehicle
      Wiper blades, who cares about wiper blades in the summer? ? I would hope everyone did. Imagine this scenario a sudden summer storm or as you drive through a construction zone where they're spraying water to keep the dust down. You don't want to smear all that mess on your windshield or do you?? Wipers are the easiest to to check and fairly cheap to replace. Most auto parts stores will help you replace them when you purchase them at their store. Also remember to top off your windshield washer fluid at the same time.
       Brakes. Listen for any grinding noise's if you hear grinding you might be a little to late and will need to replace more than just your brake pad's. Most repair shop's will do a multi point inspection of your vehicle when you take it in for a oil change. However you might have to request it check with your shop more details. Watch for soft or mushy pedal as thats a sign of your brake system needing immediate attention.
       Coolant most commonly known as antifreeze, when was the last time you had it replaced?? Coolant should be replaced at least every 2 years or 24k- 36k miles. Coolant is important in the summer as it raises the boiling point of water. With your average gasoline engine operating at 205° and the boiling point of water being 212° you can see the importance of coolant.  Coolant also helps with rust prevention inside your engine and radiator thus making your cooling system more efficient.
      Battery, heat kills your car battery look for signs of corrosion on your battery terminals. Corrosion is a white powdery build up on your battery terminals.  A easy way to clean corrosion is found under your kitchen sink Windex. While cleaning the corrosion make sure you wear safety glasses and rubber gloves are recommended. Spray the corrosion with Windex and let it sit for a few seconds and then hose it off with your garden hose. This will help with ensuring your battery will charge properly and extend the life of your battery and alternator.

corrosion advanced stage 

   


  A/C, you might not need it yet but it never hurts to check it. Turn on your A/C and make sure all vents are blowing cold air. Nothing is worst than reaching to turn on the A/C only to find out its not working.
   One of the things I highly recommend and personally have in all my vehicles is a emergency kit consisting of jumper cables, a can of fix of flat, a pair of gloves, flashlight, a few small bottles of water, small blanket, and a couple dollars wort of quarters. Gloves will keep your hands clean in the event you need to change a tire. Water will keep you hydrated if you have to wait for a extended period of time for help. The blanket can also double as a sun shade to keep your car cool while you wait for help. In this modern technology era everyone has a cell phone but suppose your battery dies how will you call for help?? Believe it or not pay phones still exist and that's when the quarters will save the day. Amazon has several ready to go emergency kits for under $60 and come in a small compact case that will take up minimal space in your trunk.
    Following these few tips will minimize the chances of you having a break down on the road. Be safe and ill see you out on the road. If there is any topic you would like to see covered let me know and ill do my best to address it.

Private property impound

As many of you know i've been in the towing and recovery business for a while. In this line a work you play many roles to different people. Some see you as the good guy, others hate you. Recently I was asked why I don't do as many P.P.I's (private property impound ) as in years past. As many companies have given our industry a really bad reputation and left a bad taste in many motorists mouths. I will try to clarify some of the misunderstanding you may have.

In 2006, AB2210 moved through the legislative process and was signed into law. That bill made a number of changes to statutes governing the towing of vehicles including setting a number of criteria before a vehicle could be removed. AB2210 became cvc 22953 which conflicted with cvc 22658 that remained in the law books.

Many tow companies have ignored cvc 22953 and have taken advantage of the unaware motorist. Cvc 22953 has also caused many headaches to business owners, why you ask?? Cvc 22953 reads,

(a) An owner or person in lawful possession of private property that is held open to the public, or a discernible portion thereof, for parking of vehicles at no fee, or an employee or agent thereof, shall not tow or remove, or cause the towing or removal, of a vehicle within one hour of the vehicle being parked".

What does that mean, you ask? Anybody can park on your parking lot for an hour and not have to come in your store or business at all and you, the property owner, can do nothing about it until their car has been sitting for an hour on your lot. In the meantime your customers have to find parking elsewhere.

Im not taking the side of the tow companies or the motorist here, im informing both sides of something they may not know.  San Diego district attorneys have started pressing criminal charges against tow companies, their drivers, and property owners who violate cvc 22953. Now let me ask you, do you think its fair for you to park in someones lot without you even setting foot in their business while they get prosecuted criminally for having your vehicle towed?? Section 22658 is more detailed and outlines specific rules for tow companies.

Its still a sticky situation as everybody's interpretation is different even my police officer friends will not give me their interpretation of that law. Section 22658 and 22953 still allow for immediate removal of vehicles within 15 feet of a fire hydrant in a handicap space without appropriate placard fire lanes or blocking entrance or exit of a property.

So please be careful where you park and show consideration for business owners. Stay tuned for more information relating to the towing and automotive industry I will try to address any questions and concerns the public might have.